Winter Band Concert

The La Junta Jr/Sr High School Band Winter Concert played to a large and appreciative audience at the Otero Junior College Ed Stafford Theatre on Monday night.

Bette McFarrenbmcfarren@ljtdmail.com

The La Junta Jr/Sr High School Band Winter Concert played to a large and appreciative audience at the Otero Junior College Ed Stafford Theatre on Monday night.
Opening the festivities was the Junior High Concert Band, comprised of seventh and eighth graders. Director Josh Race was highly complimentary of their performance after only five weeks of practice on this repertoire and not having played together as one band until earlier in the evening. They played "Carol of the Drum," arranged by Paul Lavender; "Kachina: Chant & Spirit Dance," by Anne McGinty; "Evening Prayer," by David Shaffer, and "Nutcracker Suite Petite," arranged by Joseph Compello, in which the audience heard snatches of "Waltz of the Flowers," "Dance of the Hours," and "Russian Dance." The audience cheered wildly after their performance.
The Jazz Band started with "Herdin' Cats," featuring solos by Jacob Dittburner and Trevor Lopkoff. Their other numbers were the rousing old-timer "Pennsylvania 6-500," arranged by John Berry, "Cheesecake," arranged by Rick Stitzel, and "Abracadabra!" by Larry Barton. The LJHS Winter Guard swung out with the band members. The transitions were smooth and fast.
The High School Concert Band followed with "Echoes of Ireland," arranged by James Swearingen, "Appalachian Morning" by Robert Sheldon and "Renaissance Festival," arranged by Kenneth Singleton.